Christopher Higdon
San Diego,CA
Summary
Accomplished Senior Finance Analyst with a strong focus on budget management, risk assessment, and process improvement. Proven track record in executing funding allocations and enhancing financial operations.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
San Diego, CA
06.2025 - Current
- Lead Financial Analyst, in charge of all funding execution, data calls, and ad hoc requirements
- Assessed program risks, schedules, funding requirements, and variance drivers to anticipate impacts to cost, schedule, and performance and guide mitigation actions.
- Directed PMS 485 budget portfolio oversight for ECH III activities and contractor performers, aligning funding with program requirements and mission objectives.
- Partnered with PM teams, performers, technical leads, and financial leads to execute accurate, timely funding allocation across mission-critical work.
- Administered direct cite funding allocations, ensuring contractors remained resourced and critical program activities continued without interruption.
- Managed funding during continuing resolution periods, proactively identifying constraints to minimize risk of work stoppages.
- Collaborated with technical and financial stakeholders to enhance systems and processes, resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in financial management.
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Centurum Inc.
San Diego, California
11.2024 - 05.2025
- Oversee financial operations for NIWC Pacific C4I Advanced Restoration Depot and Crypto Repair Facility activities.
- Manage financial planning, forecasting, and execution for approximately 200 FTEs across three contracts, ensuring resources are aligned with operational requirements.
- Monitored monthly quoting plans against actual expenditures for hardware restoration efforts, identifying cost variances to enhance financial forecasting.
- Conducted post-restoration audits of labor hours, costs, and material expenditures to refine cost estimates and resource allocations.
- Collaborated with Electronics Technicians to develop quoting methodologies, systems, and processes, improving accuracy and efficiency of restoration estimates.
- Partner with Production Control Managers and Program Management to establish new manufacturing capabilities, assess future resource requirements, and support long-term program planning.
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
San Diego, California
12.2023 - 11.2024
- Developed and presented comprehensive monthly financial briefs to the Business Financial Manager (BFM), Program Manager (PM), and Deputy Program Manager (DPM), providing critical insight into program financial performance.
- Managed funding allocations and monitored execution against established benchmarks to ensure funds were properly distributed and effectively utilized.
- Managed cash phasing and spend plans for PMW 760 Front Office OMN and OPN funding, as well as cross-platform SCN spend plans.
- Prepared weekly and monthly ZRQIS funding reports to identify current and projected funding requirements and support program financial decision-making.
- Monitored funding across multiple contracts to ensure timely resource availability and mitigate contractor stop-work risks.
- Monitored deliverables for lead BFM across 20+ U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ship platforms, facilitating effective program oversight.
- Managed 16-FTE contractor team supporting PMW 760, ensuring timely deliverables, optimal staffing, and alignment of personnel and funding requirements.
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
San Diego, California
05.2022 - 12.2023
- Served as Senior Financial Analyst for LCS Sustainment team (N61/N62), collaborating with Branch Manager to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in financial management and funding processes.
- Projected and executed funding to support New Construction and Post Delivery events for Lockheed Martin Freedom-class and Austal USA Independence-class LCS platforms.
- Successfully managed funding during a Continuing Resolution with reduced resources, ensuring continued support of LCS Post Delivery Labor and Assessment Services through the Obligation Work Limiting Date.
- Leveraged available excess funding to address emergent requirements and provide additional support during ship availability periods.
- Managed approximately 50 FTEs across multiple ship platforms and programs, ensuring labor resources were appropriately planned and available to support mission requirements.
- Supported PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants team in task planning and Purchase Request (PR) development across LCS, DDG-1000, Lockheed Martin OUSV, U.S. Coast Guard, and Frigate programs.
- Provided on-site and field activity planning, integration, testing, configuration management, and program oversight for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) warfare systems throughout New Construction, Post Delivery, and Sustainment phases.
Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
VTG Defense
Washington, District of Columbia
10.2021 - 05.2022
- Developed and delivered weekly and monthly financial presentations to government stakeholders, including senior leadership, program directors, and Navy Captains within the PEO SHIPS GEM organization.
- Tracked monthly spending allocations across 68 systems in electronics, hull, mechanical & electrical (HM&E), and ordnance subsystems to maintain budget compliance.
- Monitored Continuing Resolution funding allocations and weekly expenditures to ensure timely commitment and obligation of funds.
- Monitored Continuing Resolution funding allocations and weekly expenditures to ensure funds were committed and obligated in a timely manner.
- Authored standard operating procedures (SOPs) and analytical guidelines to transform ZRQIS data into actionable financial information for technical and non-technical leadership.
- Authored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and analytical guidelines for transforming ZRQIS data into clear, actionable financial information for both technical and non-technical leadership.
Head of Operations
Ms. Betty's Original Candle Company
Woodbridge, Virginia
08.2014 - 06.2021
- Built and scaled company and brand from inception, enhancing business operations, financial performance, customer relationships, and long-term growth.
- Managed day-to-day operations, overseeing production, fulfillment, wholesale orders, inventory coordination, and client relationship management.
- Developed and implemented process improvements designed to increase employee productivity, product quality, and overall operational efficiency.
- Evaluated financial, historical, current, and forecasted business data to identify opportunities for growth, operational improvements, and increased profitability.
- Enhanced customer service and relationship-management practices, promoting customer retention and fostering long-term relationships with wholesale and retail clients.
- Supported business development and networking initiatives to establish and maintain sustainable relationships with customers, retailers, and business partners.
Education
Master of Arts -
Georgetown University
Washington, DC03-2020
Bachelor of Science -
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL05-2018
Skills
- Budget management
- Financial forecasting
- Cost analysis
- Risk assessment
- Program management
- Process improvement
Timeline
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
06.2025 - Current
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Centurum Inc.
11.2024 - 05.2025
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
12.2023 - 11.2024
Senior Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
Booz Allen Hamilton, BAH
05.2022 - 12.2023
Finance Analyst, DoD Contractor
VTG Defense
10.2021 - 05.2022
Head of Operations
Ms. Betty's Original Candle Company
08.2014 - 06.2021
Master of Arts -
Georgetown University
Bachelor of Science -
Florida Southern College